a good read and some good bits

Seth Godin: In a digital world, the gift I give you almost always benefits me more than it costs.

Jacqueline Novogratz: Dignity is more important than wealth. It’s going to be a long, long time before we can make everyone on earth wealthy, but we can help people find dignity this year (right now if we choose to).

Hugh MacLeod: Don’t worry about finding inspiration, it comes eventually… Nobody cares… Do it for yourself… When your dreams become reality, they are no longer your dreams… The most important thing a creative person can learn professionally is where to draw the red line that separates what you are willing to do, and what you are not… Remain frugal… Ignore everybody.

Elizabeth Gilbert: Cease participation, if only for one day this year – if only to make sure that we don’t lose forever the rare and vanishing human talent of appreciating ease.

John Wood: The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The second best time is now.

Guy Kawasaki: Never describe your cause by using bull shiitake terms like “revolutionary” and “paradigm shifting.” Instead, explain how it helps a person.

Joichi Ito: We live in an age where people are starving in the midst of abundance and our greatest enemy is our own testosterone driven urge to control our territory and our environments.

Derek Sivers: It’s dangerous to think in terms of “passion” and “purpose” because they sound like such huge overwhelming ideas… Instead, just notice what excites you and what scares you on a small moment-to-moment level.

Penelope Trunk: What’s important is to be kind, and be gracious and do it in ways that make people want to do that for someone else.